Man United transfer reality is clear if they want to give Ruben Amorim a chance to fix this mess

A trip to St James' Park is usually a big date in the calendar for Manchester United, but there was no getting away from the fact that this was an inconvenience to them this week. While Newcastle steeled themselves for a nervous run-in, Ruben Amorim's side are only playing to avoid unwanted records.

Sandwiched between both legs of their Europa League quarter-final against Lyon, this match was one for United to survive, from a footballing and physical point of view. In the end, they did neither.

There were spells in the first half when it looked like the team for whom this game meant nothing but could trouble the team for whom it meant everything. But the positives didn't last.

A couple of smart moves and a slick goal were the sum of Amorim's positives as he headed back to Manchester. In the minus column were a disastrous defensive performance, a costly injury, and a sense of confidence being eroded.

When United led Lyon in injury time on Thursday night, things looked good. Since then they have conceded a late equaliser, seen their goalkeeper dropped and been soundly beaten on Tyneside. Thursday night's return against the Ligue 1 outfit, on which United's season rests, looks a lot more challenging than it did.

It has long been Europa League or bust for United. To put their domestic struggles into perspective, this defeat meant they are guaranteed to finish on their lowest-ever points tally in the Premier League despite having six games to go. They have been wretched.

The only real interest in this game was who could put their hand up for a spot in Amorim's side for Thursday and what will surely be a tight and tense night at Old Trafford. Top of that list was Altay Bayindir, the goalkeeper finally making his Premier League